Four Woman of Steel winners in England squad for World Cup
Photo: Ed Sykes/SWpix
All four winners of the Woman of Steel award have been named in the England squad for this autumn’s World Cup on home soil.
Tara-Jane Stanley (York), Georgia Roche (Leeds, ex-Castleford), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens) and Australia-born Courtney Winfield-Hill (Leeds) have all been named in Craig Richards’ 24-woman squad.
Winfield-Hill qualifies to play for England on residency grounds and declared her eligibility earlier this year.
Newcastle-born Leeds player Zoe Hornby is the only uncapped player in Richards’ squad.
2022 Challenge Cup winners St Helens have 11 representatives in the squad whilst there are seven from Grand Final winners Leeds. League Leaders’ Shield holders York have four players involved, whilst Wigan have two.
England’s opener against Brazil on November 1 is already guaranteed to be watched by a record attendance for a women’s rugby league fixture.
Richards’ girls will then face Canada in Wigan on November 5 before a final group stage fixture back in Leeds against Papua New Guinea on November 9.
England women squad for World Cup:
Dannielle Anderson (Leeds)
Caitlin Beevers (Leeds)
Keara Bennett (Leeds)
Leah Burke (St Helens)
Jodie Cunningham (St Helens)
Hollie Dodd (York)
Grace Field (York)
Fran Goldthorp (Leeds)
Amy Hardcastle (St Helens)
Zoe Harris (St Helens)
Zoe Hornby (Leeds)
Shona Hoyle (St Helens)
Tara Jones (St Helens)
Vicky Molyneuz (Wigan)
Carrie Roberts (St Helens)
Georgia Roche (Leeds)
Emily Rudge (St Helens)
Tara-Jane Stanley (York)
Beth Stott (St Helens)
Paige Travis (St Helens)
Courtney Winfield-Hill (Leeds)
Vicky Whitfield (St Helens)
Georgia Wilson (Wigan)
Olivia Wood (York)
England men’s head coach Shaun Wane will announce his 24-man squad for the World Cup on Friday morning. They play Fiji in a World Cup warm-up match at Salford on October 7.
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